Fall of a Kingdom

by Michael Greenfield

  “Isn’t that the same thing?” Tamala was still unsure as to what Asrak wanted, though Cal could feel his misgivings evaporating rapidly.

  “No,” he watched the accusing glare that he knew he would receive for interrupting and almost smiled at the predictability of it, “I think I’m beginning to see where this leads.

  Asrak, is there any way that you could bring Collett here?”

  “That would simplify things wouldn’t it, but I’m afraid that I have meddled almost to the limit that I am permitted. I wouldn’t worry too much over the issue, so far you appear to be doing most of the right things.” He surprised Cal with a kindly smile. “It might not appear so, but you have our enemy greatly worried.”

  “Thanks, I think. You keep saying our enemy, but you have not named them yet. I know of the Mythraan leading the Shalers, but I get the impression that you speak of something else.”

  “Indeed I do, though I don’t think I could accurately describe it to you. Suffice to say that the Mythraan are not the masters whatever they may personally believe.

  Now then, perhaps a warm drink before you retire for the evening. I mean no disrespect Cal, but I would like the chance to have a word with your beautiful lady alone.”

  Once the door had shut behind them Cal returned his attention to Shalane. “Is he going to really upset her and explain why everyone keeps calling her sorceress?”

  “You’ve got a nasty sense of humour there Cal. Admittedly accurate, but nasty all the same.”

  “I just wanted to be prepared for when she reappears, you’ve yet to see her when she’s in a mood.”

  Melgar’s head jerked up from the bar at the sound of raucous laughter from the pair of them.

  Westward

  Farsighter and Dorrin both sat silently in Esbet’s cabin. When Asrak had first presented himself to them, there had been general commotion around the ship. Esbet had called out the watch that had been on duty and was ready to give them a serious bollocking until it had been pointed out that there was no way that they could have seen Asrak arrive. Farsighter almost smiled at the memory, but not when he remembered what the stranger’s arrival had signalled.

  The watch had spotted the armed men congregating on the dockside, and with the ring as well, it hadn’t needed much to convince Esbet that they would be better off out of harbour.

  Whilst Esbet got the ship under way, Farsighter and Dorrin had led the man below decks to the captain’s cabin, where he had proceeded to spend half an hour giving instructions to the pair of them.

  After he had finished, he left the cabin, claiming that he was heading above decks for some air, but when Dorrin followed moments later, they could find no sign of him. This appeared to upset Dorrin more than it did Farsighter, but the elder man held his thoughts on the matter.

  Currently they waited for Esbet to return to his cabin, having spent what had been left of the day making sure that they had not been followed by the Galorn navy.

  Now that the sun had set and the last of the day’s light had all but faded, the captain felt that he was able to leave the tricky process of maintaining sail through the night to his first mate. There was little danger of running into land or reefs but they had to be alert for the running lights of other ships that had heaved to for the night.

  The door to the cabin opened and Esbet stepped through. He didn’t speak as he entered, but instead moved to his locker and recovered a small bottle. Ripping the stopper clear, he took a hearty swig before offering it to the others. Farsighter declined, but Dorrin accepted and took a gulp of the fiery liquid before handing the bottle back.

  “We’re clear?” Farsighter motioned out of the stern window as he spoke.

  “For the moment. If we see nothing tomorrow we should be alright. Have you given any thought as to where we’re heading?”

  “I have, but I’m still not sure. First of all we’ve got to make for Mor Drek, in the Outer Isles. We need information that is obviously not going to be forthcoming from the Galorn. At least in Mor Drek we’ll be able to get reports from the army and perhaps get some messages sent.”

  “But what of the stranger ‘ordering’ us to Ch’Lan. I know that the people of Leefs’elm are prodigious warriors, but they’re not all that likely to come racing to aid our cause.”

  Dorrin gave a strange look at that. “I think that you may be wrong there, but it will all depend on talking to the right people when we arrive. As for the rest of our route, I think that we should avoid the south coast, especially Joorat.

  If the enemy has spies anywhere south of Bor’a you can bet that most of them will be trying to find out what the magic users of Joorat are up to.”

  Esbet grunted his agreement. “We’ll need to stock up with provisions at Mor Drek. It’s a long trip to Ch’Lan and there aren’t that many places to stop for supplies.”

  “How long will it take to make port?” Farsighter was concerned that they gain news on what else was going wrong as quickly as possible.

  “We’ll keep the night sailing up until we close on the islands, then we’ll be forced to slow to daytime sailing only, but even then we should be in port within the week.

  I know you hate the fact that we’re heading away from your friends Old Wolf, but if what we’ve been told is even half true, they’d understand.”

  Dorrin placed a hand on Farsighter’s shoulder as the captain spoke.

  “If it’s any consolation friend, think of the trouble that Cal’s likely to cause for the enemy without your guiding influences to temper him.”

  That brought the flickering of a smile to his face. “I guess you’ve got that right.”

  Sorceress

  Tamala sat in silence as the others left the tavern, closing the door against the night’s cool air after them. Melgar had left a jug of warm mulled wine that was placed on a stand next to the fireplace in order to maintain its heat and Asrak availed himself of this whilst the others were leaving.

  Their conversation whilst they had walked around outside the tavern had not quite been what she had expected. Mostly it appeared to be Asrak asking questions about herself, Cal and the others, and not a lot of information forthcoming. Once they had returned to the warmth of the tavern Asrak had quickly made it plain to Cal and Shalane, without being rude, that he had not finished and would appreciate further privacy.

  Once they were again alone he passed a second mug to Tamala and took the seat opposite her. “How do you feel?”

  “Honestly,” she looked around them at the now empty bar area, “confused. If what you’ve said is true, then I can’t see any way that we can defeat them.”

  “They can be beaten, but it will take trust on your part, and belief.”

  “Belief in what? I’ve had belief forced upon me this evening, but it hasn’t helped my confidence much.”

  Asrak laughed. “I’m not surprised. It’s not every day that you get told that everything you love is not only in mortal danger, but there’s a very good chance that those you hold dear will not be able to do anything about it.

  Try worrying about the things you can effect and leaving the other things to those that are involved with them.”

  Tamala smiled ruefully. “That doesn’t offer much consolation.”

  “It’s better than nothing. Besides, as I’ve just said, they can be beaten.”

  “But if we’re limited on the amount of magic that we can use, then we will be sorely tested in a pure struggle of arms. They already have the J’Dar tribes behind them as well as the Shaler nation.”

  “I never said that it would be easy, but there is a chance.

  Do you know that I am convinced that fate is a sentient being with a very sick sense of humour?” Asrak didn’t wait for response before answering, “No one ever notices, but there have been many times when the ‘dark forces’, or ‘evil goblins’, or whatever have come so very close to wiping out civilization, but they never seem to manage as long as we keep two things, honour and faith.

 
I’m not saying that it will be easy, it won’t. Many people you know and love are going to lose their lives before this is over, but if you’ve got faith, you’ve got a chance.

  Cal is a classic example. He followed Farsighter to begin with because he had faith that he would lead him to the life he wanted. When they found Dorrin and took him to Holdur, it was honour that caused him to accept that whatever he thought his life was supposed to be would have to wait until his duty to his monarch had been discharged, and his honour again that set him to stay at your side during the battle and the consequent encounter with the dwarves.”

  “And now?” Tamala had a feeling that she knew the answer, but didn’t want to articulate it.

  “Why now it is his faith in the woman he loves to know what the right thing to do is.”

  Tamala lowered her head slowly. Asrak sat silently as she absorbed what he had said but moved round the table and placed a comforting arm about her when she began to sob. It was not the first time that the enormity of what they attempted had invaded her thoughts, but it was the first time that anyone had placed the burden of responsibility on her.

  “But I don’t know what to do.” Her voice was slightly muffled from Asrak’s cloak, where she had buried her face.

  Quietly, and with surprising gentleness in his voice, Asrak spoke again. “What would you normally do if you didn’t know the correct course of action for something?”

  Red-rimmed eyes looked up at him. “I’d ask someone with more,” her voice stopped abruptly as she considered what he had asked. Then, with more confidence, she continued, “I’d ask someone with more experience in the matter for assistance.”

  “Anyone in mind?”

  “Bastard, you know that there’s only one person I can ask.”

  “Actually there are a few for what you need, but I do happen to be in the same room I suppose.” For the first time since the others had left the bar Asrak saw a smile on Tamala’s face. “Apart from which, it’s not just a case of teaching new things, but more a case of teaching you new ways to do the things you already know.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Have you ever wondered as to the nature of magic? Questions like, where does it come from?”

  Tamala shook her head.

  “All magic has a source, and whilst it is at its source it is neither light nor dark, just magic. Next question, have you ever wondered at the words ‘sorcerer’ and ‘sorceress’, and where they originated from?”

  Once again Tamala was forced to shake her head.

  “Perhaps if you spelled them differently, maybe S-O-U-R-C-E-R-E-S-S, you might get the idea.”

  Comprehension spread across her face as Tamala realised what Asrak was getting at. “You mean that they could use magic directly from its source?”

  “Not only could, but those with the right talents still can, ‘Sorceress’.” The emphasis on the last word caused Tamala to furrow her brow as she thought on something that had been annoyingly sat at the back of her mind all day.

  “When I cast the travel spell this morning to bring us here, Astridson had nothing to do with it did he?”

  “No,” Asrak grinned wickedly, “but you had to have faith, so he placed the image of the entrance to Agorel upon the wall. The limits placed on magic users are more to do with what they are capable of believing than anything else.

  If you believe that you are limited in what you can do because of the draining of life energy and the constraints of which energies you can use, then you will be able to only affect minor spells.

  What happened today was that you were so convinced that your spell would be aided that you didn’t even consider where the target was, or how much power it would require. In short, you ignored the limits of light magic and drew directly from the source, although I was a bit confused to see that you still apparently aged. I guess belief can be even stronger than I thought.”

  “You mean,”

  “There was no reason for you to age, I would guess that you’re so used to it happening that your own subconscious drew some life energy into the spell purely to conform with your beliefs.”

  “If I use source magic, then it won’t have any effect as to the balance between the two powers?”

  “Not in the way that you mean, no. It will still affect the powers, but that’s something for others to worry about. Suffice it to say that it won’t bring about instant destruction.

  Unfortunately, time is a bit limited, so all I can give you is the next few hours, but rest assured that someone will be with you who can answer most of your questions as you continue north.”

  Tamala gave him a questioning stare before she thought of the answer. “Astridson?”

  “He knows a lot about the use of source magic, even if he can’t use it himself. The Lighters have a prophetic poem, I can’t remember the exact words, but because of it they have always had someone who studies the old lores in order that they will be ready to render assistance when it is called for.

  At this time, Astridson is the current Lore-Keeper.”

  Cal sat back in the cave where they had first been led to, comforting himself by the fire. Someone had brought him soup earlier to help ward off the chill that had set in with the arrival of night, and Astridson had pointed out a sleeping area further back within the cave but he felt no desire to sleep yet, despite the fact that it had been three hours since they had left the tavern.

  He sat wondering what Tamala and Asrak were discussing. He had a fair idea as to what some of it was about; Cal himself had picked up on the fact that Astridson had referred to her as a sorceress. There was a sense of familiarity about the Source Guide that he couldn’t quite place, no matter how hard he thought on it. Probably something that would come to him in time, he decided. At least he had reunited Cal with his bow, that was something for him to be cheerful about. He knew that he was becoming more than proficient with the blade, but he still felt more comfortable with the bow.

  The tavern was another thing that bothered him. He knew that his skills as a tracker were excellent, but he would have sworn that it wasn’t in the gorge. They had travelled too far west for it to have been anywhere between the cliffs that surrounded them, yet they had clambered through no rocky ravine that might have explained where they had gone, only crossed the relative flat of the gorge floor.

  His contemplations were interrupted by a figure huddled in a cloak entering the cave. At first Cal thought that it was Asrak until he realised that they were far too short to be him. Throwing back the hood of the cloak there was no mistaking the flash of red as the fire’s light reflected off of Tamala’s hair.

  Leaping to his feet, Cal embraced her fiercely.

  “You missed me then?”

  Laughing, Cal replied, “What do you think? Its lonely sitting at a fire with no one to tease.” He kissed her deeply before holding her slightly away from him. “What did Asrak have to tell you?”

  “Patience.” Cal was genuinely relieved to hear the playful retort. He had been worried that Tamala might be swamped by all that had happened that day. Their plans to rescue the Queen were wrecked beyond even his wildest nightmares. The party was split, with three members themselves now captives of an enemy that Cal still couldn’t put a face to.

  He knew that his perspective of the world had changed in the last few weeks, but he didn’t think he had managed to change his ways of thinking far enough yet to be able to deal with all of this alone. His thoughts were returned to the present when Tamala jabbed him sharply with her finger.

  “Thinking of some tavern wench?”

  “Well you have spent some time recently in taverns, but I don’t know whether you rate the title ‘wench’ yet.” Pushing her quickly away he easily ducked the slap that Tamala aimed at him. “Now, now.”

  He turned at the slight sound of someone approaching behind them to see one of the Lighter women carrying a small pot of soup, along with two bowls, spoons and some bread. “Franc thought you might need some more
soup.”

  “Thank you.” Tamala took the pot and bread from her whilst Cal took the bowls and spoons. “Could you ask Master Astridson if he could spare us a moment?”

  “Of course My Lady.”

  The woman moved swiftly back toward the rear of the cave, disappearing out of sight as she rounded a corner further in. Cal glanced at Tamala. “Something that you want to tell me?”

  “I think that your new blood brother is going to be spending quite a lot of time with us for the foreseeable future.”

  As Cal thought on it whilst ladling some of the soup into the bowls, he decided that having Astridson along probably wouldn’t be a bad idea, although he was sure that he and Tamala probably had differing reasons as to why.

  Pursuit

  The Captain could feel three pairs of eyes staring intently at him as he entered the audience chambers. No one else was in the room apart from the men upon the dais at the far end from the door through which he had just been admitted by two guards he had never seen before.

  For a man who had spent most of his life around the barracks of the royal palace that should have struck him as strange, but in recent months things had begun to happen that caused the man to ignore the relevance of such a fact.

  Chancellor Baridon sat upon the only chair, whilst Cor’dell stood immediately to his right. Myerscough stood to his left but slightly behind the other two, a sign that although he was the Chancellor’s aide, he was not his second-in-command.

  “You have news?” It was Cor’dell that spoke, to the surprise of the captain.

  He hesitated slightly before responding. “We have searched the grounds for the two Boraan. They are not within the palace, nor were we able to locate Captain Astridson, though he was last seen in their presence.”

  “So you allowed them to escape?”

  “My Lord?” Sweat was starting to bead upon the young captain’s brow now.

  “You were tasked with sealing the grounds so that they could not leave, is that not correct?”